Issac: Château, Tower and Trails

With Château de Montréal, Tour Saint-Jacques and several trails, you can shape a stay in Issac around history, architecture and outdoor activities. The trails vary in length and theme, and each historic building has different details to discover. This lets you plan your time around the interests that matter most to you when travelling.

Chapel and Château de Montréal

The chapel of Château de Montréal was built around 1539 to house the Sainte-Épine relic. Its construction is therefore directly linked to this relic. The Château is partly listed and partly classified as a historic monument; the entire estate is protected. These partial designations and the protection of the whole estate describe different aspects of its heritage status.

The visiting period is given as 1 July to 31 August. Check the dates before your trip if you would like to include a visit to the Château in your plans. The chapel offers a specific historical point of reference: it was built to house the relic. Its story therefore differs from the architecture of Tour Saint-Jacques and the artworks along the Sentier poétique.

Tour Saint-Jacques

Tour Saint-Jacques was built in the 15th century and has been classified as a historic monument since 2 July 1987. It is round and built over an underground room. Like the tower, the adjoining houses are also round and built over an underground room. The Tour Saint-Jacques also has a spiral staircase. Its design, underground room and staircase give the tower a different architectural character from the Château chapel.

If you visit both buildings, you will encounter two distinct aspects of the local heritage: the chapel’s connection with the Sainte-Épine and the tower’s architectural features. The dating of Tour Saint-Jacques to the 15th century and its classification since 1987 also provide two different points of reference for its history.

Trails of different lengths and themes

The Sentier des 10 000 ans is a 13-kilometre circular trail. Around twenty years ago, students from Issac laid it out as part of an educational project. At the edge of the forest, traces of a bloomery forge can be identified from the slag remains. The trail also points to the Tourbière du Laquin, a peat bog away from the route. This trail therefore brings together evidence of earlier metalworking techniques and a landscape feature, with the bog located off the route.

The Sentier poétique is about 3 kilometres long and leads through the forest. Along the way, it features sculptures by Christophe Besse and framed photographs by Éric Solé. It starts at the car park northwest of Issac school. In terms of length, the Sentier poétique is considerably shorter than the 13-kilometre Sentier des 10 000 ans. If you are looking for the shorter of the two trails described, this is a clear guide; for a longer circular route, consider the Sentier des 10 000 ans.

Another designated route

The Boucle des 10 000 ans is designated for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Three types of activity are listed for this route, not just hiking. When planning, you can consider this information alongside the lengths and distinctive themes of the two Sentiers. The art on the Sentier poétique, traces of the forge on the Sentier des 10 000 ans and the designated uses of the Boucle offer different points of reference when choosing activities in Issac.

For a stay focused on architecture, the chapel and the tower offer different historical and architectural themes. If you would rather spend time on the trails, the approximate 3-kilometre length of the Sentier poétique and the 13-kilometre circular route make it easy to compare distances. The Boucle’s designated uses provide information about other listed activities. This lets you balance culture and trails according to your interests.

Discover more destinations: Pontours, Milhac-D'auberoche, Saint-Pierre-De-Chignac, Faux, Monpazier, Saint-Michel-De-Double, Saint-Jean-D'estissac, Vergt.

Return to the broader travel overview: Dordogne.